Starting at Holyhead early on Friday, June 8, Insp Collingwood and his fellow Doncaster officer - sergeant Russ Higham - managed to finish the epic trip two days later on Sunday, June 10, in Chepstow.

They had additional support from Doncaster sergeant Richard Vernon and retired officer Dean Stockdale, who essentially acted as their caterers for the weekend and kept them well stocked with food and drink.

The officers during the ride.

“But the illness is just utterly heart-breaking, having to watch your loved one be reduced to a childlike and confused state, it’s something that so many people go through and families have to witness such a sad deterioration of someone so close to them.

“This was one of the drivers for me to do the bike ride, to raise awareness of the illness and help contribute towards research into Alzheimer’s disease, which is one of the most common causes of dementia, as well honouring the memory of my mum and to remember her.”

He explained how the ride was rather eventful as they were called upon to free a trapped lamb.

Said Insp Collingwood: "Our ‘caterers’ managed to trade their role at one point, reverting to the police mantra of ‘protecting and preserving life’ when they saved a lamb we had come across trapped in a cattle grid with his mother, who sadly was no longer alive, on top of him.

“They went back along the ride trail we’d just come down, travelling on the narrow roads for ten miles, just to find the farmer.

"They then assisted him with the actual recovery of the lamb, to which the farmer was astounded they’d gone to so much trouble!"

Recalling the moment they finally finished the ride, he said: "The feeling when we arrived just after 6pm was a mixture of emotions.

"It was a relief knowing we were finished and could finally dismount the saddle and lose the lycra, but at the same time, I hoped my mum somehow knew I’d done this for her and that I was trying to help others.

"I would highly recommend the ride across Wales, there’s a number of routes to choose from and it’s such a beautiful country with absolutely stunning scenery.

“We’re already planning our next ride, potentially looking at a route across Scotland. This will again be in support of the Alzheimer’s Society as it is such a worthwhile cause and I sincerely hope one day with all the research that is being conducted and carried out, a cure or treatment will be eventually be discovered.”

The ride has so far managed to raise more than £300 for the Alzheimer’s Society. To donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ridefordementia

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